Tuesday, September 1, 2015

058. | Five Steps for Achieving the Perfect Summer Glow

It may be the First of September, but that doesn't mean I'm ready to let go of my summer glow. With a few more weeks of warm weather ahead, I'm looking to maximize my sun kissed, vibrant skin before embracing the fall beauty trends. In this post, I share five tips, from nutrition to skincare to makeup, to achieve beautiful skin with a (99%!) natural glow.

Beauty rest is real and important. One of the easiest ways to achieve a lit-from-within look is to make sure to get seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Overnight, the skin repairs and restores itself. Without a full night's rest, the skin looks dull and lackluster. Dark circles form and blemishes take longer to disappear. So tonight, tear yourself away from your Netflix binge and get your sleep on.

Feed your glow. Once the skin is rested, it is important to make sure it's hydrated. Drinking water keeps the skin looking fresh and bright. To make my water more fun and spa-like, I like adding lemon wedges and cucumber slices. Just as important is eating "skin-friendly foods" such as blueberries and spinach. This Protein Berry Mojito Smoothie from ALOHA is packed with superfoods that promote beautiful, glowing skin. For more healthy, delicious recipes, check out the ALOHA Recipe Page!

Sunbathe shrewdly. Spending time outdoors is obviously the best way to look naturally sun kissed. As long as you take the necessary precautions, basking in the sun isn't harmful for the skin. Be sure to apply (and reapply!) a suntan lotion with an SPF of 30 or higher. I like the Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Lotion because it has a built-in moisturizer. Limit time spent in the sun and remember to apply a lotion with aloe once indoors. The Dead Sea Essentials Aloe Vera Body Lotion smells heavenly and leaves my skin feeling silky smooth.

When all else fails, fake it. As much as I love finding healthy and natural ways to look my best, nothing can quite compare to the effect of a good bronzer and highlight. For a summer glow, look for products that contain shimmer. The shimmer will intensify when reflecting natural sunlight. My favorites, which would work well on a wide range of skin types, are the Too Faced Sun Bunny Natural Bronzer and theBalm's Mary-Lou Manizer.

We both have a little "summer glow" theme going on today, haha! I couldn't live without a highlighter! Have you tried the new one by Jacyln Hill yet? It's called Champagne Pop, it'll match your blog! ;-)

I always forget to exfoliate, that's totally by downfall! I'm super excited it's September, it's my favourite month as well as my birthday month, eek! But I agree, I'm not ready to give up the glow. Makeup Revolution and MUA highlighters are my saviours right now, but I really want to get my hands on Mary Lou!xx

Drinking water and getting plenty of sleep are great suggestions more people (including myself) need to remember! It's two simple things that can get so overlooked and it's important to follow those reminders.